Stereoscopic apparatus



Patented Sept. 29,

Charles A. Basco,

Oakland, Calif., assignor of one-half to Rozelle L. Williams, Oakland, Calif.

Application June 17, 1940, Serial No. 340,876

f and side walls 4. It is also provided with-a bot- 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in a stereoscopic apparatus, and its principal ob,-

.ject is to provide an apparatus of the character described in which a stereoscopic effect is producedby the use of a single image. y

A further object of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the 'character described that is very simple in construction, and easy to use. y

A still further object of the invention'is to provide an apparatus of the character described that lends itself readily to use in connection with a continuous lm as well as in connection with individual slides.

A further object of the invention is to provide a stereoscopic" apparatus that is adapted for home use, and also readilyl adaptable for use in connection with coin-controlled machines, particularly of the type in which a comparatively short continuous film is used by a spectator upon the insertion of a small coin.

It is further proposed to provide a stereoscopic apparatus that is readily convertible into an apparatus adapted for use in motion picture houses, allowing individual spectators equipped with the device to view a motion picture. therethrough for obtaining a stereoscopic eiect.

And finally it is proposed to provide an apparatus of the character described, that is sosimple in construction as to be portable, and adapted for carrying around and for use in the same easy manner as a pair of opera glasses.

Further vobjects and advantages of my invention will appear as the specication proceeds, and the novel features thereof will be fully set forth in the claims hereto appended.

'I'he preferred forms of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, in which:

Figure 1 shows a perspective View of my stereoscopic apparatus;

Figure 2, a horizontal section taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

tom 5 and atop 6, which may be made removable by any suitable means.

The/front wall 2 has twoparallel partitions I extending into the box from an intermediate portion thereof. the partitions running parallel to one another and being co-extensivein length,

-so as to form a light chamber 8 in which is mounted a source of light, indicated at 9.

The light chamber may be provided with a suitable reflector Ill for intensifying the light passing-through the open rear end of the light chamber-, I

The ends of the partitions are suitably recessed, asshown at II, covered by a frame I2 to provide grooves I3 for'a slide, indicated at I4. This slide may be of the conventional type used in projection machines, to carry a single Figure 3, a vertical section taken along line 3-3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4, a similar section, showing a slightly modified form of the invention.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention I wish to have it understood that various changes or modiiications may be made within the rscope of the claims hereto attached, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In its preferred form, my invention comprises a box I, which may be rectangular in shape, and

which consists of a front wall '2, a rear wall 3, 55

individual image, or may be in the nature of a lm carrying a continuous series of images, as used in the motion picture industry.

The top and bottom of the'box are provided with suitable slots I5 and I6 alined with the guide grooves, so as to allow slides-or lms to be passed vertically through the box in the rear of the light chamber.

The front wall is formed withY suitable eye holes I'I on opposite/sides ofthe light chamber and the rear wall has two reectors I8 arranged in the line of sight of a person looking through the eye holes. These reectors are mounted at reverse angles to the lines of sight, so as to face the slide or film disposed at the rear end of the light chamber.

The reflectors are preferably made in the form of magnifying glasses, with a silver coating upon the rear faces thereof.

y'Ihe manner in which my invention operates will be readily understood from the foregoing description.

The light rays from the source of light 9 throw the image from the slide o'r lm upon the two reiiectors, and each of the latter reects the image through the eye holes.

It will be noted that the two images reflected through the eye holes, although coming from the same source, are not alike, but that each image is slightly distorted on account of the angular position of its reector. A

Following a pOint on the slide or lm marked a, for instance, it will be noted that this point is l reected from the left hand reflector near the ,left side thereof, while the same point is re- `iiected from the right hand reflector also fromthe ieft sid But in the left hand reflector, the point at which reflection takes place. is closer to the left eye than the corresponding point on the right hand reflector is to the right eye. so that the right eye sees the point at adiiferent distance than does the left eye.

The same is true with reverse effect for the point b on the slide or nlm, which point-is seen by the left eye at a greater distance than by the right eye. In other words, the left eye looks at a picture which slants away from it in one direction, while the right eye sees the picture which slants away from it in a reverse direction, both O pictures being distorted, and the two eyes cooperating in reconstructing a single image out of the two pictures, with a definite third dimension, or depth effect.

The form shown in Figure 4 diiers slightly from that shown in Figures 1 to 3, inclusive, and this form is intended to be used for viewing motion pictures or other images produced outside the box.

In this form, a screen I9 is substituted for the slide or nlm of the other form, and an opening 20 is provided in the rear wall opposite the screen. When used by a spectator at a' motion picture theatre, the latter'would direct his apparatus toward the screen of the theatre, much in the manner of opera glasses, and the pictures of the theatre screen would fall upon the screen I9 to be reilected by the two reflectors I8 to the eyes of the spectator in the manner previously del scribed.

It is apparent that my invention lends itself to many diilerent uses. In its simplest form, as shown and described, it is adapted particularly for individual home use, the operator successively inserting slides to be viewed through the slots I and I6.

If continuous films are to be exhibited, it would be a. simple matter to provide a means for feeding a lm through the slots I5 and I6 in the intermittent movement required for the display of motion pictures.

It would also be a comparatively simple matter to add a suitable coin-control, whereby a film would be released for feeding through the apparatus, only upon insertion of a coin.

It is also apparent that, while Figures 3 and 4 show diierent forms, one intended for viewing a lm passing through the box, and the other for viewing a picture thrown upon an outsidescreen, the two forms may be easily combined into one, if desired. The screen I9, for instance,

asoman might be made insertible in the form shown in Figure 3, in the same manner as the slide of said form, and the hole 20 might be provided in the form 3 with suitable means for shutting the same, when not desired.

The source of light 9 is shown in the drawing as provided with wires for connecting to a conventional house socket, but it would be possible, of course, to mount a small battery upon, or inside the box, as a source of power to render the device more available for carrying around.

I claim:

1. A stereoscopic apparatus comprising a. box, means for mounting a nlm therein with an image on said nlm, the box having a pair of eye holes on opposite sides of the nlm, a source of light mounted behind the nlm and between the eye holes, and a pair of reectors mounted in the box at reverse angularities in the line of sight of the eye holes and so as to face the image.

2. A stereoscopic apparatus comprising a box, means for mounting a nlm therein with an image on said film, the box having a pair of eye holes on opposite sides of the film, a source of light mounted behind the nlm and between the eye holes, and a pair of magnifying reilectors` mounted in the box at reverse angularities in the line of sight of the eye holes so 4as to face the image,

3. A stereoscopic apparatus comprising a boxhaving a front wall and a rear wall, partitions projecting into the box from an intermediate section of the front wall, a slide, mounted upon the inner ends of the partitions, a source of light mounted between the partitions,vthe front wall having eye holes on opposite sides of the partltions, and reflectors mounted on the rear wall in the line of sight of the .eye holes and at reverse angularities to the line of sight so as to face the slide.

4. A stereoscopic apparatus comprising a box having a front wall and a rear wall, partitions projecting into the box from an intermediate section of the front wall, a slide mounted upon the inner ends of the partitions, a source of light mounted between the partitions, the front wall having eye holes on opposite sides of the partitions, and reilectors mounted on the rear wall in the line of sight of the eye holes and at reverse angularities to the line of sight so as to face the slide, the reectors being constructed to magnify the images reflected through the eye holes.

CHARLES A. RASCO. 

